Process of chemically combining gases.



D. R. LOVEJOY. PROCESS OF CHEMICALLY COMBINING GAS-ES. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 1B, 1903.

904,072. Patented Nov. 17, 1 02.

chemical compounds are j that the amount of v with reduction of converted gases,

1 UNITED STATES fa rnnr OFFICE.

DIMMITT a. LovEJoY, or NIAGARA FALLS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

' TO WALTER a. r. BRADLEY, TRUSTEE, or Nunron, Y.

PROCESS OF GHEMICALLY COmINING GASES.

Specification of Letters Tlatent.

Application filed February 18,1903. Serial No. 143,976.-

.To all whom 'it may concern:

-Be it known that I, DIMMITT R. LovEJoY,

-acitizen ofthe United States, residing at Niagara Falls, in the-county of Niagara and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes of Chemically Combining Gases, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in process for effecting the union or chemical action of gases by the agency of electric arcs within or inconnectionwith a. chamber in which are. contained the mixed gases to be chemically combined. In U. S. Letters Patent No. 709,867, issuedto C. S. Bradley and D. R. Lavejoy, September 30, 1902, and in my Patent No. $29877, dated August 28th, 1906, described apparatus for this purpose in which cases a series of electrodes is meted past another series of electrodes oppositely charged to a high-tension so as to successively form, elongate, and break arcs between such electrodes, within a chamber in which the mixed gases to be united are It will be apparent that in cases where formed by the action of electric arcs on gases, as for instance in-the formation of oxids of nitrogen, that the heat of the arcs operates in two ways to reduce and limit the amount of chemical combination and even break up such compounds when formed. In the first place since the temperature of the gaseous mixture is as a whole considerably increased by. the heat of the arcs, the vaportension of the.

compounds formed is increased in a like proportion and inasmuch as it is probable such compounds formed bears a definite relation to the tension of its vapor as related to. the tensions of the unit will be evident that if the compound or compounds formed are readily coudensable or liquefiable at low temperature as compared with the unconverted gases (which is equivalent to saying that their vapor tensions are more rapidly reduced temperature) ,that such compounds will be more abundantly formed at lower temperatures than at high temperatures and that if the 4 whole gaseous mixture be reduced to the point of liquefication'or still better ofsolidi; fication of the compounds formed that such compounds will be more rapidly,

temperature, of the abundantly formed than, at higher temperatures. In the second place if the temperature of the whole mass of gases were allowed to rise, due to. the heat of the arcs, a point would be reached at which the compounds would suiter dissociation after having been formed and with consequent loss of efficiency. Therefore taking these two causes into consideration it is clear that if the temperature he allowed to rise, the efficiency of production is materially interfered with and that on the contrary if the temperature be reduced the operations will be conducted to much greater advantage. In order to ob v'iate this injurious effect of heat, my present improvement consists in subjecting the gases to artificial refrigeration either pre- Patented Nov. 17, 1908.

liminary to or simultaneously with the ac- Y tion of the electric arcs.

In the accompanying shown, diagrammatically,

paratus by which my process may into effect in the ditferent ways above indicated.

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic longitudinal drawings I have two forms of apsection of an apparatus adapted for subjecting the mixed gases to refrigeration, i1nmediately before their admission to the chainbe carried her where they are subjected to the effect of electric arcs, as described in my prior patent No. 829,877, hereinbefore referred to. Fig. 2 is a similar view in which the gases are subjected to the refrigerating action within the chamber through which they are passed under the influence of the electric arcs, an simultaneously to their subjection to the effect of such electric arcs.

Referring to Fig. 1, 1 represents a cylinder having numerous fixed electrodes 2 project-.'

ing from its inner periphery. 3 represents a shaft mounted. centrally and rotating within the cylinder 1' and carrying a number of movable electrodes 4 connected mechanically and electrically with the said shaft. 5 represents the induction pipe for admission of fresh mixed gases, (atmospheric air, for example), and 6, 6 outlet'duets for the removal of-the nitrogen compounds formed under the treatment. 7 indicates an exhaust fan to illustrate suitable means for causing the flow of gases through the chamber; 8 a suitable source of high tensionelectric currents, either unidirectional or alternating, and 9 a series of induct-auces or easily, and choke-coils each having one terminal connected individually to the fined electrodes 2 and, in practice, having their other terminals grouped together and connected to one pole of the generator 8, the circuit being completed by connecting the shaft 3, by means of a conductor with the other pole of the'genera tor 8. The shaft 3 is preferably mounted in'insulating bearings 10 and 11 at top and bottom as described 111 my 'rior application,

and the stationary electro es 2 mounted in tubes or bushings 14 of porcelain or other insulating material set in packings in the cylinder adapted to prevent the passage of gas and also to permitthe radial adjustment of the fixed electrodes 2 relatively to the electrodes 4; which revolve in proximity to such stationary electrodes. (51 represents a chamber in the induction pipe 5 containing a coil (32 through which ammonia or refrigerated brine or other refrigerating agent is caused to flow bycustomary means so that by contact with such coil the inflowing gas will be subjected to refrigerating action 1mmediately before entering the cylinder 1.

In Fig. 2 similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts. 61* represents a jacket surrounding the cylinder 1 and 62* a refrigerating coil therein through which coil a refrigerating agcntis caused to How as be fore described, so as to cool the entire cylinder and the body of mixed gas therein during action of the electric arcs on said gases.

In another application of even date herewith I have described a method of subjecting gases to radiant energy from a suitable source of such energy, in conjunction with electric. discharges to effect or facilitate chemical union of such gases. My present improvement also relates to the subjecting of gases to refrigerating action in conjunction with the combined action of electric discharges and independent radiant energy from any suitable source of such ener 'Ihetemperature of the air is preferably reduced to about that. of solidificatibn of nitric fumes; say-150 C. so that the nitric fumes as soon as formed will liquefy; or

the temperature may be reduced only to that at which nitric fmnes liquefy say-30 C. It

eoaow' is evident also that, while this invention has been described with particular reference to the formation of OXldS of nitrogen by means of electric discharges 1n the form ofarcs,

it is also applicable to the formation of 1. The process of effecting or promoting chemicalreaction in gases, which consists in subjecting the gases to the action of electric arcs and remoizing the products formed from the region of the arcs by refrigerating the same to reduce said products to'a nongaseous state.

2. The process of clfecting 'or promoting chemical reaction in gases, which consists in subjecting the gases to the action of electric arcs, successively and repeatedly striking, elongating aml breaking said arcs and removing the products, formed from the action of said arcs by refrigerating the same to a nongascous state.

3. The process of effecting or promoting the chemical combination of nitrogen'and oxygen, which consists in subjecting said gases to the action of the electric arc and simultaneously refrigerating the nitrous oxids formed to reduce the same to a liquid or solid condition.

4. The process of'effecting or promoting the chemical combination of gases, which consists in subjecting said gases to the action of electric arcs of minimum volume and simultaneously subjecting the gases to refrigeration to reduce the compound formed to a liquid or solid condition.

D. R. LOVEJOY.

Witnesses:

CLAUDE K. MILLs, WM. GIRLING. 

